DALTON, Mass. — Several hundred residents have petitioned the Planning Board and Board of Health to take action regarding complaints surrounding Berkshire Concrete Corp. 

 

On Wednesday, the Planning Board will be providing an update on the organization's dust mitigation plan and the petrographic test results expected to determine the dust's composition.

 

During an update on the situation at a February Select Board meeting, the Board of Health said it is actively working with the state Department of Environmental Protection on air sampling from the sand dust to understand its contents.

 

In February, the town ordered Berkshire Concrete to stop work because of a "clerical error" that resulted in abutters being improperly notified.

 

Although work has stopped, residents say sand and dust is still blowing into the neighborhood. 

A neighborhood petition gathered 357 signatures to urge the boards to take strict action on the situation. 

 

The petition urges the following steps be taken: the town cease approval of all future permits to Berkshire Concrete Corp. parcel 105-16; zone the parcel to protect it from all commercial purposes in perpetuity; and enforce strict reclaiming of the parcel to include but not be limited to regrading steep slopes, mulching mats to protect seed, and reforestation;

 

It also requests that all work at the entire mine site be stopped until corrective action has been taken and approved by governing authorities; that the town enforce permit conditions in a timely manner; and continually monitor air quality at the site and in the neighborhood.